Donate Membership

Shop

Tickets Membership

ExhibitionsEmperors Artists InventorsExhibition Objects

Exhibition

Emperors, Artists & Inventors: Transformative Gifts of Fine Arms and Armor

Overview Exhibition Objects

Helmet (<i>Spangenhelm</i>), Iron, copper alloy, gold, Byzantine — Helmet (Spangenhelm)
Byzantine
6th century

Combination Sword and Wheellock Pistol, Steel, iron, copper alloy, gold, silver, French, probably Paris — Combination Sword and Wheellock Pistol
French, probably Paris
ca. 1550–55

Half-Shaffron for an Armor of King Philip IV of Spain (1605–1665) or his Brother Don Carlos (1607–1632), Pierre du Coudroy French, Steel, copper alloy, silver, gold, Flemish, Brussels — Half-Shaffron for an Armor of King Philip IV of Spain (1605–1665) or his Brother Don Carlos (1607–1632)
Armorer Attributed to Pierre du Coudroy
Armorer Attributed to François Le Gras
1624–26

Gold-inlaid Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver (serial no. 20133), with Case and Accessories, Samuel Colt American, Steel, copper alloy, gold, wood (walnut), textile, glass, cork, bone, pewter, paper, American, Hartford, Connecticut — Gold-inlaid Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver (serial no. 20133), with Case and Accessories
Manufacturer Samuel Colt
Designer Cylinder ornament designed by Waterman Lilly Ormsby
ca. 1853

Lamellar Shoulder Defenses, Iron, leather, textile, Tibetan — Lamellar Shoulder Defenses
Tibetan
14th–16th century

War Mask, Iron, gold, copper alloy, Tibetan — War Mask
Tibetan
14th–16th century

Two-Handed Sword, Steel, latten or copper alloy, British or Western European — Two-Handed Sword
British or Western European
ca. 1400–1450

Close Helmet and Cavalry Armor, Steel, leather, German, possibly Lower Saxony — Close Helmet and Cavalry Armor
German, possibly Lower Saxony
helmet, ca. 1530; armor, ca. 1540–50 and later

Priming Flask Bearing the Monograms and Arms of the Prince-Elector August I of Saxony (reigned 1553–86) and Anna of Denmark (reigned 1553–85), Master Thomas der Schwertfeger (possibly Thomas Rucker) German, Iron, gold, silver, silk, German, probably Saxony — Priming Flask Bearing the Monograms and Arms of the Prince-Elector August I of Saxony (reigned 1553–86) and Anna of Denmark (reigned 1553–85)
Iron-chiseler Master Thomas der Schwertfeger (possibly Thomas Rucker)
ca. 1575

Rapier, Steel, iron, silver, copper alloy, wood, German, Dresden — Rapier
German, Dresden
ca. 1575–1600

Wheellock Pistol, Steel, wood, staghorn, mother-of-pearl, gold, French — Wheellock Pistol
French
ca. 1580–1600

Wheellock Puffer Pistols, Balthasar Dressler German, Steel, wood (walnut), antler, German, Dresden — Wheellock Puffer Pistols
Gunsmith Balthasar Dressler
Gunsmith Master HR
ca. 1585

Saber and Scabbard, Steel, gold, silver, turquoise, leather, wood, Sino-Tibetan — Saber and Scabbard
Sino-Tibetan
17th–18th century

Wheellock Pistol, Pierre Cisteron French, Steel, iron, silver, gold, wood (fruitwood, ebony), bone, French, Figeac — Wheellock Pistol
Gunsmith Pierre Cisteron
ca. 1630–40

Pair of Flintlock Holster Pistols Made for Louis XIV of France (r. 1643–1715), Pierre Cisteron French, Steel, fruitwood, gold, silver, French, Figeac — Pair of Flintlock Holster Pistols Made for Louis XIV of France (r. 1643–1715)
Gunsmith Pierre Cisteron
ca. 1650

Wheellock Sporting Rifle, Martin Kammerer German, Steel, wood, iron, silver, tortoiseshell, German, Augsburg — Wheellock Sporting Rifle
Gunsmith Martin Kammerer
dated 1658

Combination Flintlock Pistol and Concealed Dagger, Matteo Cecchi, called Acquafresca Italian, Steel, silver, wood (walnut), Italian, Bargi — Combination Flintlock Pistol and Concealed Dagger
Gunsmith Probably by Matteo Cecchi, called Acquafresca
ca. 1690

Repeating Flintlock Pistol, Michele Lorenzoni Italian, Steel, wood, silver, Italian, Florence — Repeating Flintlock Pistol
Gunsmith Michele Lorenzoni
ca. 1690–1700

Pair of Flintlock Holster Pistols with the Arms of Liechtenstein, Georg Keiser Austrian, Steel, wood (walnut), silver, gold, Austrian, Vienna — Pair of Flintlock Holster Pistols with the Arms of Liechtenstein
Gunsmith Georg Keiser
ca. 1720

Powder Flask, Wood, tortoiseshell, mother-of-pearl, gold, Italian, Naples — Powder Flask
Italian, Naples
ca. 1740–50

Pair of Flintlock Pistols of Count Heinrich von Brühl (1700–1763), Adrien Reynier the Younger, called Le Hollandois French, Steel, wood, silver, gold, copper alloy, French, Paris — Pair of Flintlock Pistols of Count Heinrich von Brühl (1700–1763)
Gunsmith Adrien Reynier the Younger, called Le Hollandois
Gunsmith or Charles Reynier, called Le Hollandois
ca. 1740

Pair of Flintlock Pistols, Henry Hadley British, Steel, wood (walnut), silver, gold, copper alloy, British, London — Pair of Flintlock Pistols
Gunsmith Henry Hadley
ca. 1765

Saber of Archduke Carl Joseph of Austria (1745–1761) as a Boy, Steel, gold, bloodstone, Austrian, probably Vienna — Saber of Archduke Carl Joseph of Austria (1745–1761) as a Boy
Austrian, probably Vienna
dated 1751

Pair of Flintlock Pistols of Scottish Type Presented to Jeffrey, 1st Baron Amherst (1717–1797), John Murdoch Scottish, Steel, copper alloy, gold, enamel, agate, textile (silk), British, Doune (Scotland) and probably London — Pair of Flintlock Pistols of Scottish Type Presented to Jeffrey, 1st Baron Amherst (1717–1797)
Gunsmith John Murdoch
ca. 1780

Pair of Flintlock Revolvers, Tula Arms Factory Russian, Steel, wood (walnut), copper alloy, gold, silver, horn, Russian, Tula — Pair of Flintlock Revolvers
Manufacturer Tula Arms Factory
ca. 1790

Smallsword with Scabbard, Gold, steel, copper alloy, wood, vellum, felt, glass, hilt and scabbard, probably Spanish; blade, German, Solingen — Smallsword with Scabbard
hilt and scabbard, probably Spanish; blade, German, Solingen
ca. 1790–1800

Pair of Flintlock Pistols, Claude Martin, Steel, wood, silver, gold, Indian, Lucknow, and possibly British, London — Pair of Flintlock Pistols
Patron Claude Martin
ca. 1786

Pair of Flintlock Pistols of the Prince of Wales, later George IV (1762–1830), with Case and Accessories, Durs Egg Swiss, Steel, wood (walnut, rosewood, mahogany), silver, gold, horn, copper alloy, leather, textile, British, London — Pair of Flintlock Pistols of the Prince of Wales, later George IV (1762–1830), with Case and Accessories
Gunsmith Durs Egg
Silversmith Michael Barnett
hallmarked for 1787–88

Presentation Smallsword, Martin-Guillaume Biennais French, Steel, gold, lapis lazuli, wood, leather, French, Paris — Presentation Smallsword
Goldsmith Martin-Guillaume Biennais
ca. 1814

Smallsword and Scabbard Presented to Captain Alexander Cochrane, James Morisset British, Steel, gold, enamel, wood, leather, British, London — Smallsword and Scabbard Presented to Captain Alexander Cochrane
Goldsmith James Morisset
Retailer Gray & Constable
hallmarked for 1796–97

Smallsword with Scabbard and Case, Michael Barnett British, Steel, gold, silver, wood, vellum, leather, copper alloy, silk, felt, British, London — Smallsword with Scabbard and Case
Silversmith Michael Barnett
hallmarked for 1798–99

Set of Sixty-Two Engraving Tools of Louis D. Nimschke (1832–1904), Louis Daniel Nimschke American, Steel, wood, American and European — Set of Sixty-Two Engraving Tools of Louis D. Nimschke (1832–1904)
Engraver Louis Daniel Nimschke
19th century

Cased Pair of Flintlock Pistols Presented to Captain Cayetano Valdés y Flores, Nicolas Noël Boutet French, Steel, wood, silver, gold, copper alloy, leather, textile, French, Versailles — Cased Pair of Flintlock Pistols Presented to Captain Cayetano Valdés y Flores
Gunsmith Nicolas Noël Boutet
1801–02

Presentation Saber with Scabbard, Royal Arms Manufactory at Torre Annunziata Italian, Steel, copper alloy, wood, gold, mother-of-pearl, coral, Italian, Naples — Presentation Saber with Scabbard
Manufactory Royal Arms Manufactory at Torre Annunziata
ca. 1806–10

Saber and Scabbard Presented to Lieutenant Colonel Edward Pakenham, John Ray and James Montague British, Steel, gold, enamel, leather, British, London — Saber and Scabbard Presented to Lieutenant Colonel Edward Pakenham
Goldsmith John Ray and James Montague
Retailer R. Clarke & Son
hallmarked for 1802–03

Patriotic Fund Sword with Scabbard, of £100 Type Presented to Capt. Thomas Baker in 1805, Together with its Belt and One Extra Scabbard, Richard Teed British, Steel, gilt-brass, gold, ivory, textile, British, London — Patriotic Fund Sword with Scabbard, of £100 Type Presented to Capt. Thomas Baker in 1805, Together with its Belt and One Extra Scabbard
Sword cutler Richard Teed
dated 1805

Percussion Longrifle Converted to a Target Rifle, Jacob Kuntz American, Wood (maple), steel, brass, platinum, silver, horn, bone, stock and fittings, American, Philadelphia; lock, British, London; barrel, Scottish, Edinburgh — Percussion Longrifle Converted to a Target Rifle
Multiple artists/makers
stock and fittings, ca. 1830–40; lock, ca. 1830–40; barrel, 1862

Workbook Recording the Engraved Firearms Ornament of Louis D. Nimschke (1832–1904), Louis Daniel Nimschke American, Ink on paper, leather binding, American, New York — Workbook Recording the Engraved Firearms Ornament of Louis D. Nimschke (1832–1904)
Louis Daniel Nimschke
ca. 1850–1900

Five Shot Double-Action Percussion Revolver with Shoulder Stock, Case, and Accessories, Steel, wood (oak), silver, gold, copper alloy, textile, lead, German — Five Shot Double-Action Percussion Revolver with Shoulder Stock, Case, and Accessories
German
ca. 1860

Gold-inlaid Colt Model 1849 Pocket Revolver (serial no. 63306), Samuel Colt American, Steel, copper alloy, gold, wood (walnut), American, Hartford, Connecticut — Gold-inlaid Colt Model 1849 Pocket Revolver (serial no. 63306)
Manufacturer Samuel Colt
Designer cylinder ornament: Waterman Lilly Ormsby
ca. 1853

Naval Presentation Sword, Ames Manufacturing Company American, Steel, copper alloy, gold, walrus tusk, wood, American — Naval Presentation Sword
Manufacturer Ames Manufacturing Company
Designer John Quincy Adams Ward
ca. 1865

Smith & Wesson .44 Double-Action Frontier Model Revolver decorated by Tiffany & Co. (serial no. 8401), with Case and Cleaning Rod, Smith & Wesson American, Steel, silver, ivory, textile (chamois), wood (California laurel), American, Springfield, Massachusetts and New York — Smith & Wesson .44 Double-Action Frontier Model Revolver decorated by Tiffany & Co. (serial no. 8401), with Case and Cleaning Rod
Manufacturer Smith & Wesson
Decorator Tiffany & Co.
ca. 1893

Winchester Model 1886 Takedown Rifle decorated by Tiffany & Co. (serial no. 120528), Winchester Repeating Arms Company American, Steel, silver, wood (rosewood), American, New Haven, Connecticut, and New York — Winchester Model 1886 Takedown Rifle decorated by Tiffany & Co. (serial no. 120528)
Manufacturer Winchester Repeating Arms Company
Decorator Tiffany & Co.
1899–1900

Winchester Model 1886 Takedown Rifle (serial no. 125176), Winchester Repeating Arms Company American, Steel, gold, platinum, wood (walnut), American, New Haven, Connecticut — Winchester Model 1886 Takedown Rifle (serial no. 125176)
Manufacturer Winchester Repeating Arms Company
1901

Winchester Model 1894 Takedown Rifle (serial no. 311946) with Box of Sights, Winchester Repeating Arms Company American, Steel, gold, platinum, silver, wood (walnut), leather, textile, American, New Haven, Connecticut — Winchester Model 1894 Takedown Rifle (serial no. 311946) with Box of Sights
Manufacturer Winchester Repeating Arms Company
Engraver Signed by John Ulrich
1906

Winchester Model 1895 Takedown Rifle (serial no. 81851), Winchester Repeating Arms Company American, Steel, gold, platinum, wood, American, New Haven, Connecticut — Winchester Model 1895 Takedown Rifle (serial no. 81851)
Manufacturer Winchester Repeating Arms Company
1913

The Met Fifth Avenue
1000 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10028
Phone: 212-535-7710
The Met Cloisters
99 Margaret Corbin Drive
Fort Tryon Park
New York, NY 10040
Phone: 212-923-3700

About The Met
Mission and History
Collection Areas
Conservation Departments
Accessibility
Press

Support
Membership
Host an Event
Corporate Support

Opportunities
Careers
Volunteers
Fellowships
Internships

Follow us

Join our newsletter

Terms and Conditions
Privacy Policy
Contact Information

© 2000–2026 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. All rights reserved.